Combination typewriter box, desk, and seat



April 3, 1951 R. E. HERRICK 2,547,754

COMBINATION TYPEWRITER BOX, DESK, AND SEAT Filed Jan. 15, 1945 sSheets-Sheet 1 FOBEeTEHEE/F/CK April 3, 1951 R. E. HERRICK COMBINATIONTYPEWRITER BOX, DESK, AND SEAT s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1945POEEETZYZEEE/CK 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 R. E. HERRICK COMBINATION TYPEWRITERBOX, DESK, AND SEA'I:

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April 3, 1951 Filed Jan. 15, 1945 Patented Apr. 3, 1951 attainumrsisrarss partn r orrics ooMBINA'rIoN TYPEWRITER BOX, nrsx, AND SEATRobert E. Herrick, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application January 15, 1945, SerialNo. 572,798

4; Claims. (01. 312-408) 1 the necessity of transporting accessoryfurniture 1 with a typewriter so that under any conditions and at anytime, the typewriter may be made ready for efficient operation.

Still another object of. the invention is to provide a typewriterstorage and transporting box wherein a removable wall of the box can beconverted into a desk top for the typewriter and a fold'able portion ofanother wall of the box forms a seat.

Still afurther object oflthe invention is to provide a box of' this typewhich when converted Figure? is a view in partial section of one of thefastening means for securing an upright to the top; and

Figure 8 is an end elevation of the same.

The boxshown in Fig. 1 is of a somewhat greater overall dimension than astandard upright typewriter machine. It maybe formed of any desiredmaterial, preferably wood, and is so constructed to be strong enough towithstand extremely rough handling when a typewriter is positionedtherein for transportation. The box 'is flat sided and for the purposeof describing the same is provided with a front end wall I, a

rearend wall 2, a base and side walls l and 5. A removable cover 6closes the box. walls i and 5 are provided with reinforcing strips 1that extend slightly above the end and side walls and the cover 6 isadapted to rest upon the upper edges of said walls within theextensions. The side walls A; and 5 are provided with handles 8.. Thebox may be internally reinforced by rear corner posts 9 and short frontcorner posts it.

into a desk and seat involves an arrangement wherein a maximumsteadiness is obtained at a conservation of space and" material.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a simple hold down forthe typewriter adjustable to fit any make of standard upright typewriterand easily shiftable from the base of the box to the desk top or viceversa.

Other and further objects of the'invention will be. apparentfrom adetail description thereof,

wherein only a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is shownand described, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forminga part hereof, in which:

Figure 1' is a perspective view of the box entirely closed;

Figiiregi's a verticalsection on the line 22' of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial vertical section of the box taken at rightanglest'o Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the box partially converted with thecover removed and the uprights and seat'in position prior to placing thetop on the uprights; 7 v v Figure 5 is a side elevation of the convertedbox fromthe opposite side of Figure 4, showing the top in position and atypewriter mountedthereon Figure 6 is a top plan view of'the'converte'dbox in" us'e'as a typewriter desk and Seat;

This construction is merely a preferred form and may be varied provideda sufliciently sturdy constructionresults. I

The cover 6 is externally reinforced by strips it secured thereto byscrew studs !2 which ex.-

tend through the cover as shown at It (Figured) for a purpose to behereinafter more fully described. When the box is used fortransportation, the cover may be secured in position by hinged hasps I land keepers l5 secured revers'ely to the end walls 4 and 5, but thismerely illustra'tes' a preferred embodiment of the-invention andanyother suitable securingmean's may be provided. As the cover 6 i adaptedto function as a desk top for the typewriter when the box is converted,it is provided with a pair of folding wings l6 and ll, hinged toopposite edges as shown at Hi. When folded as shown in Fig. 2', theysupport the cover on the upper edges of the end and side walls of thebox. The wing I6 is larger than the wing ll and has secured thereto apigeon holed compartment H9. The wings are provided with suitable spacedrecesses 2i] to receive the projecting ends [3 of the screws l2 when thewings are folded.

The front wall I when the box is in upright position is formed in twosections. The lower section 2| is rigidly secured to the adjacent sideWalls and. base of the box and the u per section 22 is hinged thereto asshown at 23 so that it may be swung or folded over the rigid section. Itis secured in normal position by a stud 24 carried by the swingingportion 22 and a 00'- The side operating spring fastener 25 on the innerface of the side wall 4 as best shown in Figure 4. However, any desiredreleasable securing means may be employed for this purpose.

To support the cover 6 for use as a desk top for the typewriter when thebox is converted, there is provided a plurality of uprights 26 bestshown in Figure 4 having inclined edges adapted to fit in correspondingsockets 2'! secured to the inner faces of the side walls 4 and 5. Threeof these uprights are provided, two on the wall and one on the wall 4.Two of the uprights are parallel and inclined upwardly and outwardlyfrom the box. The upper ends of the uprights are all in a single plane.When the removable cover 6 is used as a desk top, it is reversed andrests on the uprights with the ends of the same fitting in correspondingnotches 28 in the strips H.

To removably secure the cover in position for use as a desk top, eachupright 26 is provided adjacent its upper end with a sliding androtatable pin 29 having a handle 30 which carries the latch 3| adaptedto engage behind a keeper element 32 when the pin is pushed through theupright into a socket 33 formed in the notched portion of the strip I Iand is rotated. This fastening means is clearly shown in Figures 7 and8. Upon rotation of the handle 30 to disengage the latch from the keeper32, the pin 29 may be withdrawn from the socket 33.

To securely but releasably fasten the typewriter to either the base 3 orinverted cover 6, there is. provided a simple and efficient hold down.This hold down comprises a pair of angle bars 33 having holes 35,adjacent each end. Secured to the base of the typewriter, by anysuitable means such as for instance by the screws for the feet, are apair of cross or transversely extending flat metal strips 36 havinglongitudinally extending slots 31 through which the fastening meanspass. The position of the fastening means varies both longitudinally andtransversely on different types of standard typewriters so the fact thatthe cross strips are free to be moved longitudinally either forward orbackward with respect to the typewriter base and that slots are providedthrough which the fastening means pass permits a range of adjustment sothat the cross strips may be securely fastened to the base of anystandard typewriter. The outer ends of the strips 36 are offsetdownwardly as at 38 to lie flat on the supporting base. This elevatesthe main portion of the strips on which the typewriter is secured soheads of 7 any fastening elements projecting through the slots 31 areabove the base.

The angle bars 34 extend longitudinally of the typewriter and their fiatsides overlie the offset extension 38 of the cross strips 36. The holes35 of the angle bars are in this fiat side and are so arranged that thebars may be inserted over a plurality of .permanently base attachedscrews. These screws are numbered I3 and their arrangement on theinverted cover 6 when the same is used as a desk top is clearly shown inFigure 6. An exactly similar arrangement of upwardly projecting screwsI3 is provided on the base 3. The angle bars are clamped in position bywing nuts 39.

For transporting or shipping a standard typewriter, the same is securedto the base 3 by the hold down means just described. The cover 6 is thensecured in position and the assembly as shown in Figure l, affords astrong and sturdy box for the typewriter that permits it to betransported, shipped or stored with no danger of injury to thetypewriter.

When it is desired to use the typewriter, the hasps are released and thecover 6 with attached wings l6 and I1 removed. The hinged section 22 ofthe front wall I is released and swung down. Upon removal of the wingnuts 39, the angle bars 34 may be removed and the typewriter with thecross strips 36 attached thereto removed from the box.

The box is then turned over on the rear wall 2. The section 22 of thewall I swings down over the rigid section 2| as shown in Figures 4 and 5and forms a seat. As the section 22 is approximately as large again asthe section 2|, it will extend beyond the box and is of a size to form asuitable seat for the operator. are normally carried in the box are thenpositioned in the sockets 21 as clearly shown in Fig. 4. If desired, theseat may be reinforced by metal strips 40.

The cover 6 is then inverted and placed on the flat upper ends of theuprights 26. The ends of the uprights fit in corresponding notches 28 inthe strips ll of the cover 6 which are then under the same. The pins 29are pushed in the recesses in the notches and upon rotation of thehandle 30, the latch 3| engages behind the keeper 32 to preventwithdrawal. This securely fastens the cover to the uprights and providesan elevated desk top to receive the typewriter. The wings l6 and I! areswung outwardly to increase the width of the top. The igeon holecompartment I9 is thus disposed below the wing 16 and surface of thetable.

The typewriter with the cross strips 36 attached is then .placed uponthe top. The angle bars 34 are placed over the ofiset ends 38 of thestrips and the projecting screws l3 passed through the holes 35. Thewing nuts 39 are then applied to the projecting portions of the screwsand the typewriter is securely held in position. When it is desired toreconvert, the operations just described are reversed.

This invention is particularly designed for use by the military forcesfor field work. Under such conditions, it is often impractical totransport accessory furniture for comfortable and eflicient operation ofa typewriter. Haphazard structures are often resorted to which retardsthe efficiency of the operator. When used as a box, a standardtypewriter may be safely and easily transported under abnormalconditions. By a very simple series of operations requiring no skill,the box may be converted into a compact and steady desk and seat and thenecessity of accessory furniture eliminated. The structure of the boxitself is mainly utilized for the conversion of the same and the onlyadditional parts are three uprights which may be easily stored in thebox when not in use.

When used as a desk, the assembly is so balanced that the typewriter maybe mounted on the top without danger of tilting in spite of the fact thetop projects from above one end of the box. As the seat also projectsfrom the other end of the box, when an operator is seated at the deskthe steadiness of the assembly is increased. By eliminating one of theuprights adjacent the seat, an operator has no trouble stepping into thedesk to take his seat. The fact the open end of the box is in front ofthe seat increases the leg space and prevents the operator beingcramped.

It is within the scope of this invention to change The uprights 26 whichthe specific mounting of such details as the uprights, wings of thecover, or fastening or mounting means, as these merely are shownprimarily for tlge purpose of illustrating an operative structure. i

The specific form of hold down shown is how and seat comprising a flatsided box including front, back, side and bottom walls and aremovabletop Wall, said top wall including hinged extensions on the oppositeedges thereof, said front wall comprising a fixed portion and aswingable portion hingedly secured to said fixed portion and adapted tobe positioned thereover to form aseat when the case rests on the backWall thereof, opposed guide members secured to the side walls of saidcase, supports removably mounted in said guide members and extendingupwardly above the plane of said seat, and means for removably mountingsaid top wall in reversed position upon the extremities of said supportswhereby said top wall and said hinged extensions form a typewriter desk.

2. A combined typewriter carrying case, desk and seat comprising a flatsided box including front, back, side and bottom walls and a removabletop wall, a portion of said front wall being adapted to be positionedover the remaining portion to form a, seat when the case rests on theback wall, opposed guidemembers secured to the side walls of said case,supports removably mountedin said guide members and extending upwardlyabove the plane of said seat, and means 'for removably mounting said topwall upon the extremities of said supports to provide a typewriter desk.I

3. A combined typewriter carrying case, desk and seat comprising a flatsided box including front, back, side and bottom walls and a removabletop wall, a portion of said front wall being adapted to be positionedover the remaining portion to form a seat when the ease rests on theback wall, a plurality of supports removably mounted on said side wallsand extending upwardly above the plane of said seat, and means forremovably mounting said top wall upon the extremities of said supportsto provide a typewriter desk.

4. A combined typewriter carrying case, desk and seat comprising a flatsided box including front, back, side and bottom walls and a removabletop wall, said front wall comprising a fixed portion and a swingableportion hingedly secured to said fixed portion and adapted to bepositioned thereover to form a seat when the case rests on the back wallthereof, a plurality of supports removably mounted on said side wallsand extending upwardly above the plane of said seat, and means forremovably mounting said top wall 7 .upon the extremities of saidsupports to provide a typewriter desk.

ROBERT E. HERRICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

